Comets I still undefeated; Chiefs prevail

WPTC Chiefs relief pitcher Delbert Sablan winds up a throw to home plate during their game against Comets II last Saturday in the Juniors division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield. (Jon Perez)

Bing Nakamura and Reed Teregeyo showed why they are the batting and pitching leaders in the Junior division of the 2018 Saipan Little League Baseball.

Nakamura went perfect at the plate, while Teregeyo pitched three innings in relief as the 1-2 punch of Comets I starred in their team’s 12-2 win over the Braves last Saturday at the Francisco “Tan Ko” Palacios Ballfield.

Comets I is undefeated after 10 games to keep its lofty position atop the five-team field and deal the Braves their sixth loss in seven matches. The WPTC Chiefs are in second with a 5-3 mark, followed by the 4-5 slate of the Falcons. The Comets II is still at the bottom of the standings with a 0-6 card.

Nakamura, the league’s current batting leader and also the pacesetter in five other individual statistical categories, went 3-for-3 with an RBI triple in the first inning and scored two runs. Justin Agulto provided support to Nakamura, as the former got three runs and a double after going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Teregeyo, on the other hand, pitched three innings in relief and was tagged with only one earned run on two hits, while striking out six and walking one. J.P. Castro tossed two innings in start and was also tagged with one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks.

Chiefs 8, Comets II 1
Shane Mallens pitched an almost shutout game for six innings, while Delbert Sablan had a solo shot at the bottom of the sixth to lead the Chiefs past Comets II last Saturday.

Mallens lasted more than six innings on the mound and was replaced by Sablan when Jason Reyes was up to bat at the top of the seventh.

Mallens, who was a member of the Bank of Saipan Red Sox that won the SLL Majors division title in 2015, tossed a one-hit game with nine strikeouts and two walks.

Sablan, meanwhile, belted a solo shot to deep right center—an inside-the-park home run that had the Comets center and right fielders scrambling to recover the ball. That was his lone hit in the game after getting on base on a throwing error by Comets II third baseman Reyes at the bottom of the first and having an infield fly to first baseman Deven Sablan in the next inning. He walked in the fourth and scored two more runs on Shane Borja and Ryder Alvarez’s sacrifice fly each.